Parachute, including a regulated air passage



July 7, 1953 2,644,656.

' PARACHUTE; mcnunmc A'REGULATED AIR PASSAGE Filed June 123, i951 P. w. zBocK EI'AL- "4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Peter w. Zbdck Frank Zback INVENTOM y 7, 1953 P. w. zBocK ETAL PARACHUTE, INCLUDING A REGULATED AIR PASSAGE Filed June 18, 1951 4 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Peter W. Zbock Frank Zbock I INVENTORS.

July 7, 1953 P. w. zBocK ETAL" PARACHUTE; INCLUDING REGULATED AIR PASSAGE 4 Shots-Sheet 3 Filed June 18, 1951 Peter W. 200 ck F rank Zback INVENTORS.

y 3 P. w. ZBOCKI ETAL 1 PARACHUTE, mcwomc A REGULATED AIR PASSAGE Filed me 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. /5

Peter W. Zback Fran k Zbock INVENTORS'.

I invention;

Patented July 7, 1953 PARAoriUTE, INCLUDING- A REGULATED AIR PASSAGE r P a W. Zbock and Frank Zbock, Bellaire, Ohio. Application June18, 1951, Serial No. 232,078

' :9 Claims. (01214-152) This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin parachutes .and the primary obj eot of the present invention is to provide a parachute whereby a user may quickly and readily control .and vary the speed of descent in a convenient manner. 6

Another important object of the-present invention is to provide a parachute including. a canopy havin an opening'therein in which a centrally apertured dome is mounted together with a novel and improved manually actuated valvefor selectively opening and closing the aperturein the dome. V 1

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved support and guide for the valve and a reinforcing and strengthening means for the dome.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a parachute that is extremely simple and practical in construction whereby the same may be folded into a small article when not in use, and one that is inexpensive to manufacture and service.

Other objects and advantages residevin the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference b'eing had to the accompanying drawings forming 7 part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: I

Figurel is a side elevational view of the present Figure 4-. i an enlarged vertical sectional view enlarged fragmentary top plan taken on the plane'of section line 44 of FigureZ Figure 7 is a sectionaltview taken substantially 0n the plane of section line'!! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view showing the manner invwhichv the inner and guide for the inner dome holding rod;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan VieWOIUthe canopy showing the manner in which the opening therein is reinforced;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the inner dome; A

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the present invention in modified form;

Figure 13 is an enlargedvertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section lin l3l3 of Figure 12; a

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line I4,M of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line l5--'I5 of Figure 12; v V

Figure 16 is a fragmentary plan view of the dome prior to thebending thereof to form holding tongues for the guide cage; v

Figure 17 is a plan view of the guide cage per se used with the parachute of Figures 12-.16;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the actuating cord and the attaching disk therefor that is use with the parachute of Figures 12 16. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, whereinfor the purpose of illustration, there is dis.- closed a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the numeral l0 represents a canopy having downwardly extending and converging shrouds 2 whose lower ends are attached to rings 14 on a harness or belt [6.

-;The canopy I0 is formed with a central opening whose edge is reinforced and strengthened by inner and outer rings of canvas [8 and 20,.and inner and outerrings of nylon 22 and 24, .arranged as shown best in Figure 5. The rings 22 and 24 are connected together andto the-canopy H] by grommets 26'.

An outer dome 28 rises from the canopy l 0 and includes a peripheral flat flange SEl-Wh seouter edge is rolled upwardly'as at 32. The'dome 28 is providedwith a central opening 34 of a diameter considerably smaller than the opening in the canopy through which air may pass as the parachute isused. Y ,6

A rim 36 extends radially downwardly and in.- wardly from the flange 3il-andincludes an upper peripheral flanged portion 38 whoseouter edge is rolled outwardly as at). The flange 30 overlies the rings,l8, 20,22 and 24 whereas the flanged portion 38 underlies the rings I8, 20, Hand 24, and the flange 30 is secured to the flanged portion 38 by fasteners 42 that extend through the grommets 26, the rings 18 and 22, the flange 30 and the flanged portion 38 i Y .The flange is f or ed With of a diametrically disposed support or strap 46.

The ends of the strap 46 are apertured to receive fasteners 48 that extend through the flanged portion 38, the rings I8, 20, 22 and 24 and the canopy l0.

Strap 46 is formed with a central aperture 50 that slidably receives a tubular rod 52 whose upper threaded end extends through registering apertures centrally formed in an inner dome 54 and a cap 46. Nuts 58 threadedon the upper end of the rod force the cap 56 against the inner dome 54.

A conical coil spring 60 embraces the rod. 52. and its major end is positioned inthe cap 56 and its minor end rests against the strap 46 to yieldingly urge the inner dome 54 against the outer dome 28 and the inner dome to a position, for closing opening 34.

The lower end of the rod 52 is threaded to receivably engage an abutment 62' that may be manually adjusted to limit upward movement of the inner dome relative to the outer dome. The inner dome is formed with a plurality of cirl 'cumf'erentiallyspaced apertures 64 through V which air may pass when the inner dome is lowerejd relative tothe outer: dome.

An operating cord 66 extends upwardly through the rod 52 and its upper end is attached to a wedge 68' that is fitted in the upper end of the 'rod 52;

Figures 12-18 inclusive illustrate the present invention in slightly modified form. In this embodiment, the flange portion 380; of the rim 36a is secured to the flange a of the outer dome 28a and to the reinforced edges of the opening in canopy Hla by fasteners 42a;

The ends of a diametrically disposed strap or support 46a are disposed in a pair of diametrically opposed notches in the flange 36a and the ends of strap 4611 are secured to the rings reinforcing the opening in the canopy and to flanged portion 38a by fasteners 4811.

"A tubular rod 52ais slidably received in a central aperture in the strap 46a and the lower end of rod 52a. carries an abutment 62a upon which there is supported a disk 63. The strands of an operating cord 6611 are held in apertures in the disk 63 by knotting the upper ends of the strands. The strands are held against unravelling by'a "binding 65. A wire cage 15 is mounted on the outer periphery of the dome 28 a and includes inner and outer concentric wire rings H and 19 that are connected by radial lugs 8 I. A centrally apertured' plate 83 is supported within the'ring H by radial arms 85' terminally fixed to the ring 11 and plate 83. The ring 19 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial depressions 81.

The opening 34a in the outer dome 28a i's so formed to include tongues 89 that are bent back about the inner ring 11 and which are secured to themselves by fasteners 9|.

Attaching straps 93 are disposed against the upper surface of the dame 28a and then lower ends are anchored to theflange 3 6a. and the flanged portion 380, by fasteners 95. The upper ends of'the straps are bent upon themselves to form loops 91 that embrace the depressions 81 and 'the loops 9'! are secured to themselves by fasteners 99. v V

The upper end of arod or bar IUI is secured to the ring 83 by upper and lower nuts I03 and the rod I0! is slidably received in the rod 52:: tb guide movement of the inner dome 54a toward and away from the outer dome 28a. The upper end of rod 52a is secured to the dome 54a and to a cap 5611 by nuts 58a and the conical spring 6211 embraces rod 52. The major end of spring 62a is seated in cap 58!] whereas the minor end of spring 62 rests against the support 4611.

It will thus be seen that the device, described in Figures 12-18 inclusive is sim'ilar tothe device of Figures 1-11 inclusive with the e' xception as to the support and guide for the inner dome holding rod and the structure for attaching the inner dome supporting rod to the actuating cord.

In practical use of the invention, the rim 36 or 36.willhlock the lower end of the outer dome 2B or 2.80, and the rim will also reinforce and strengthen the structure.

As the jumper pulls, the operating cord 66 or 56a the dome 54 or 54a will move downwardly from the dome 28 or 2801 so that air -may pass through the opening in the outer dome; thereby permitting the jumper tocontrol and vary his descent.

The apertures 64 of Figure 3' are very important inasmuch as they will permit easing of the tremendous air pressure before member 54 is half or fully opened.

A closure cap I84 is threaded on the lower end of tube 52a to prevent air from passing upwardly through tube 52a when the'invention is urging the convex surface of the inner dome against the concave surface of the outer dome and to ,a position forclosing the opening in the outer dome, and an, actuating cord attachedto saidinner dome for moving the inner dome .aWay from the outer dome. 1 U 2. A parachute comprising a canopy having a central opening. thereim downwardly facing outer dome having a marginal flange securedto the canopy about the. opening,. said dome; including a central opening, a downwardly facinginner perforateddome axially slidably received within the outer dome and considerably larger thansaid opening for selectively covering and. uncovering the opening in said outerdome, adiametrical sup port extending across the enter dome and. having ends secured to. said. flange,,fa rod. slidably supported. by said support, and secured to the for sliding the same against action of said spring.

3. The combination of claim 2 and a cap mounted on said rod and underlying and secured against the concave surface; of the inner dome, said spring beingconical and surrounding the a rod,

'the minor end of said spring engaging the support and the major end of said spring being seated in said cap.

4. Aparachute comprising a canopy having a central opening therein, a downwardly facing outer dome having a marginal flange secured to the canopy about the opening, said dome including a central opening, a downwardly facing rigid, perforated inner dome axially slidably received within the outer dome for selectively opening and closing the opening in said outer dome, means urging the convex surface of the inner dome against the concave surface of the outer dome into a position for closing the opening in the outer dome, an actuating cord attached to said inner dome for moving the inner dome away from the outer dome, and a rim extending radially downwardly from said flange and being secured to said flange to provide a restricted opening for air passing upwardly into the outer dome.

5. A parachute including a canopy having a central reinforced opening, an outer dome extending upwardly from the canopy with its concave surface facing downwardly and having a marginal flange surrounding the opening, a rim extending radially inwardly and downwardly from the flange and having a peripheral upper flanged portion, the edges defining said opening being secured between said flange and said flanged portion, a support extending diametrically across the rim and dome and having ends secured to said flange and said flanged portion, said outer dome having a central opening therein considerably smaller than the opening in said canopy, and an inner downwardly facing perforated dome slidably carried by the support and disposed within said outer dome for selectively opening and closing the opening in said dome, the convex surface of said inner dome contacting the concave surface of said outer dome when the opening is covered by the inner dome.

6. A parachute including a canopy having a central reinforced opening, an outer dome extending upwardly from the canopy and having a marginal flange surrounding the opening, a rim extending radially inwardly and downwardly from the flange and having a peripheral upper flanged portion, the edges defining said opening being secured between said flange and said flanged portion, a support extending diametrically across the rim and dome and having ends secured to said flange and said flanged portion, said outer dome having a central opening therein considerably smaller than the opening in said canopy, and means slidably carried by the support and disposed within said outer dome for selectively opening and closing the opening in said dome, said means including a vertical rod slidably mounted on said support, an inner perforated dome secured to the rod and movable against the outer dome,

means urging the inner dome to a position for closing the opening in the outer dome, and a pull cord attached to said rod for moving the rod and. inner dome away from the outer dome.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said rod is tubular, said cord extending completely through said rod, and a wedge attached to the upper end of said cord and fitted in the upper end of said rod.

8. The combination of claim 7 and a cap mounted on said rod and held against the concave surface of said inner dome, said urging means comprising a conical spring embracing the rod and having its minor end seated against the support and its major end seated in said cap.

9. A parachute comprising a canopy having a central opening therein, an outer dome having a marginal flange secured to the canopy about the opening, said dome including a central opening, an inner dome for selectively opening and closing the opening in said outer dome, a diametrical support extending across the outer dome and having ends secured to said flange, a rod slidably supported by said support and secured to the inner dome, spring means between the support and the inner dome urging the inner dome against the outer dome and to a position closing the opening in the outer dome, a cord attached to said rod for sliding the same against action of said spring, and means mounted on said outer dome supporting said rod, said rod supporting means mounted on said outer dome comprising inner and outer concentric wire ring members connected together, said outer wire member having circuinferentially spaced depressions, a bar supported by the inner member, said rod being hollow and receiving the bar therein, and bracket arms secured to the outer dome and having terminal loops embracing said depressions.

PETER W. ZBOCK. FRANK ZBOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,289,703 Dutton Dec. 31, 1918 1,475,304 Kraft Nov. '27, 1923 1,522,715 Durr Jan. 13, 1925 1,535,405 Ernst Apr. 28, 1925 2,181,611 Shaffer Nov. 28, 1939 2,490,232 Rozas Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 224,522 Germany July 21, 1910 449,478 Italy June 18, 1949 

